In which situation would relevant costs be critical for decision-making?

Relevant costs are essential for decision-making in scenarios that involve planning for the future, particularly in assessing the financial implications of new initiatives or projects. When deciding on a new product launch, identifying relevant costs helps management understand the incremental costs and potential revenues associated with that decision. These costs include expenses that will be directly affected by the launch, such as production costs, marketing expenses, and any additional resources that would be utilized as a result.

In this situation, focusing on relevant costs allows a business to predict profitability and make informed choices about whether to proceed with the launch or allocate resources elsewhere. On the other hand, evaluating historical financial reports, analyzing past performance, or preparing financial statements typically involves looking at fixed costs and expenses that do not change as a result of new decisions—therefore, they do not provide the same level of insight needed for future-oriented strategic choices like a new product introduction.